{{Short description|Brussels–Switzerland express train (1974–2016)}} {{Italic title}} {{Infobox rail service | box_width = | name = ''Iris'' | logo = | logo_width = | image = TEE Iris in 1979 - departing Zürich 2.jpg | image_width = | caption = TEE ''Iris'' departing from Zürich HB, 1979 | type = Trans Europ Express (TEE)<br>(1974–1981)<br>InterCity (IC)<br>(1981–1987)<br>EuroCity (EC)<br>(since 1987) | status = Withdrawn | locale = Belgium<br>Luxembourg<br>France<br>Switzerland | predecessor = | first = {{start date|1974|05|28|df=y}} | last = {{start date|2016|04|02|df=y}} | successor = | operator = NMBS/SNCB<br>CFL<br>SNCF<br>SBB-CFF-FFS | formeroperator = | ridership = | start = Brussels Midi/Zuid | stops = | end = Chur / Basel SBB | distance = | journeytime = | frequency = Daily | trainnumber = EC 96/97 | line_used = | class = | access = | seating = | catering = | observation = | entertainment = | baggage = | otherfacilities = | stock = | gauge = {{RailGauge|sg}} | el = 15 kV AC, 16.7 Hz<br>(Switzerland) | speed = | owners = | routenumber = | map = 250px | map_state = show }}
The '''''Iris''''' was an express train that linked Brussels Midi/Zuid in Brussels, Belgium, with Chur station in Chur, Switzerland.
Introduced in 1974,<ref name="cooks1974apr">"Summer services, 1974" (changes due to take effect). ''Thomas Cook Continental Timetable'' (March 29–April 25, 1974 edition), p. 465. Peterborough, UK: Thomas Cook Publishing.</ref> the train was operated by the National Railway Company of Belgium (NMBS/SNCB), the Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois (CFL), the French National Railway Corporation (SNCF) and the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB-CFF-FFS). It was named after a flower, the Yellow Iris (''Iris pseudacorus''), which was widespread in the Zenne/Senne valley, where Brussels is located.
Initially, the ''Iris'' was a first-class-only Trans Europ Express (TEE). In 1981, it became a two-class InterCity (IC), and on 31 May 1987, it was included in the then-new EuroCity (EC) network.<ref name="cooks1987jun">''Thomas Cook Continental Timetable'' (May 31–June 30, 1987 edition), pp. 472, 475. Thomas Cook Publishing.</ref> {{As of|2015}}, the ''Iris'' was one of two EuroCity train-pairs running daily between Brussels and Switzerland; the other was the ''Vauban''.<ref name=b-e/>
==History== The eastbound service was cut back to Brussels–Basel in December 2011; in December 2013 the latter was also cut back to start in Basel.
The service was discontinued on April 3 2016, alongside the introduction of a high-speed TGV service to Strasbourg.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.b-europe.com/travel/practical/alerts |title=Traffic disruptions and alterations |website=SNCB International |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401222546/https://www.b-europe.com/travel/practical/alerts |publisher=NMBS/SNCB|archive-date=2016-04-01 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<!-- ==Route== ==Formation (consist)==-->
==See also== <!--{{portal|Trains|Belgium|Luxembourg|France|Switzerland}}--> * History of rail transport in Belgium * History of rail transport in Luxembourg * History of rail transport in France * History of rail transport in Switzerland * List of EuroCity services * List of named passenger trains of Europe
==References==
===Notes=== <references>
<ref name=b-e>{{cite web|title=EuroCity trains: traditional international daytime trains|url=http://www.b-europe.com/Business/Trains/EuroCity|publisher=NMBS/SNCB|access-date=23 March 2013|archive-date=30 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930065617/http://www.b-europe.com/Business/Trains/EuroCity|url-status=dead}}</ref>
</references>
===Bibliography=== {{refbegin}} * {{Goette-Willen-TEE-Z-Sch}} * {{Malaspina-Mertens-TEE-fr}} * {{Malaspina-Mertens-TEE-it}} * {{Mertens-Malaspina-TEE-de}} {{refend}}
==External links== {{commonscat-inline|TEE Iris|Iris}} *[http://www.rail.lu/events/iris.html Rail.lu: Iris] – images of the train
{{Trans Europ Express trains}} {{EuroCity trains}}
Category:EuroCity Category:International named passenger trains Category:Named passenger trains of Belgium Category:Named passenger trains of Luxembourg Category:Named passenger trains of France Category:Named passenger trains of Switzerland Category:Railway services introduced in 1974 Category:Trans Europ Express